Heaven Can Wait (1978) — Screenplay
A quarterback, taken to heaven too soon, must occupy a murdered millionaire's body to get back to the Super Bowl and outwit his killers.
- Written by
- Elaine May, Warren Beatty
- Genre
- Comedy, Romance, Sport, Fantasy
- Length
- 155 pages
This screwball fantasy blends sports comedy with a murder mystery, offering a masterclass in tonal juggling. The script's fast-paced dialogue and sharp character contrasts—between the naive athlete and the scheming socialites—create dynamic scenes. Its clever use of mistaken identity and escalating stakes keeps the plot spinning while preserving a warm, romantic core. Study it for balancing high-concept absurdity with grounded emotional stakes.
Read the full Heaven Can Wait (1978) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study Elaine May, Warren Beatty’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.